Carol Berniece Harris, entered into the gates of Heaven, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at the age of 69 years, 8 months and 19 days.

Carol was born August 6, 1942 in Mercedes, Texas, the daughter of Leo Dell Williamson and Agnes Raybourn Williamson. After graduating high school, Carol went on to Sam Houston State University where she obtained her degree in teaching. Teaching children was Carol’s passion and she did so for 20 years in the Kenedy and Pawnee area. After her retirement, Carol was very active in the Texas Retired Teachers Association and Gideon’s International.

On June 17, 1961, Carol married her beloved husband John Ray Harris in Port Lavaca, Texas. In 2011, John and Carol celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage. The two of them were blessed and together they shared their faith and were active members in the Tuleta First Baptist Church. A bible verse that Carol held very close to her heart was Romans 10:13; “For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Carol is survived by her beloved husband, John Ray Harris; her sons, John Quentin Harris and wife Martha of La Vernia and Gerard Barton Harris and wife Geniene of Tuleta; her father, Leo Dell Williamson of Tuleta; her brother, Gary Williamson and wife Catherine of Sealy; and her precious grandchildren, Stephanie, Jake, Danielle and Seth Harris. Mrs. Harris is preceded in death by her mother.

Visitation was held, Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral services were held 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 30, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Kenedy, with Rev Jack Allen, Rev. Vernon Andrews and Rev. David Silva, officiating. Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery with Dr. Franklin Atkinson, officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be, Scott Noah, Chandler Williamson, Duane Merrill, Lynn Broadway, Gene Early, Seth Harris and Jake Harris.

Lela Ruth Riggs Hollman, a longtime resident of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Monday, April 23, 2012 in her home at the age of 93 years, 3 months and 4 days.

Ruth was born on January 19, 1919, in Nopal, Texas the daughter of William Patrick Riggs and Johnie Terry Riggs. She was a World War II Veteran having served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps. Ruth went on to teach for the Kenedy Independent School District. She was a member of OES, Delta Kappa Gama, The Red Hat Society and numerous other organizations and clubs.

On November 2, 1944, Ruth married, Henry Albert “Boy” Hollman in Casper, Wyoming. Henry preceded Ruth in death on July 6, 1992.

Ruth is survived by her sons; William Albert Hollman and wife Janet of Houston, Texas and John Hollman of Inez, Texas; her daughter-in-law, Marilyn and Alton Williams of Luling, Texas; her grandchildren, Henry Wade Hollman and wife Angie, Wendy Yanta and husband Brian, Billy Don Hollman and Robert Hollman and her great-grandchildren, Bailey, Riley, Colby Hollman, Brooke, Abby Yanta and Lacey Hollman. Mrs. Hollman is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Pat Hollman; her sister, Janice Bergstrom and her great-grandson, Lance Yanta.

Visitation was held from 6:00-8:00 P.M., Thursday, April 26, 2012 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel in Kenedy, Texas. Funeral services were at 11:00 A.M., Friday, April 27, 2012 in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. John Wheat officiating. Interment followed in the Kenedy Cemetery with Wade Hollman, Bobby Hollman, Billy Don Hollman, Alton Williams, Brian Yanta, Bailey Hollman and Riley Hollman, serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully asks that donations be made to the First Baptist Church Kenedy or the South Texas Children Home or to the charity of donor’s choice.

Lowell Willmouth Hunt, a resident of Victoria, Texas passed away at 1:13 A.M., Monday, April 16, 2011, at the Refugio Nursing and Rehab Center in Refugio, Texas at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 18 days.

Lowell was born on September 29, 1925, the son of Ben Franklin Hunt and Ollie Brinkly Hunt. He was a proud veteran of World War II, having serving in the United States Marines. On February 7, 1946, Lowell married the love of his life, Marie Denney. Together the two of them raised Cathy and Lowell Richard Hunt.

Lowell is preceded in death by his beloved wife; his parents; his son; his brothers, Frank, Veron and Orin Hunt; and his sisters, Totsie Dittfourth and Lois Harpin. Mr. Hunt is survived by his daughter, Cathy Martin and husband Ronnie of Victoria; and his grandchildren, Richard, Ronnie Gene, Danielle, Elizabeth, Jerry Don and Tommy. He is also survived by his 12 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 1:00 P.M., at the Choate Cemetery in Choate, Texas. Officiating was Ray Remmers.

Edna Anmaline Gustafson Coward, a longtime resident of Pleasanton, Texas, passed away on Thursday, April 5, 2012, in Pflugerville, Texas at 2:14 A.M., at the age of 85 years, 8 months and 15 days.

She was born in Kenedy, Texas on July 21, 1925 to Arthur and Lillie Gustafson. She was baptized at the Elim Lutheran Church on September 21, 1925 and confirmed in the very same church on September 24, 1938, by Pastor Gustaf Bergman.

Edna attended school in Cadillac, Texas and graduated from Pawnee High School on May 21, 1942. Shortly after graduating high school, she went to work for Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She worked as a parts chaser for one short week and then was put into office work and worked until June 26, 1970, when she retired at the age of 45.

She met Bill Coward at Kelly Air Force Base and they were married on August 15, 1943. They were married for 52 ½ years when Bill passed away on February 10, 1996. The two of them retired at the same time; Bill having served 33 years and Edna, 28 years.

After Edna and Bill’s retirement, they took a trip to Alaska to visit Bill’s brother. Edna and Bill both had pick-up trucks and travel trailers and they made the trip together down the Alcan Highway to Alaska. That trip was an experience that Edna never forgot. They stayed for three months as Bill and his brother, Buster worked on airplanes together. This time allowed Edna to cook and make sure the men where well fed.

When they made it back from their trip to Alaska, Bill and Edna traded in their travel trailer for a 20 foot Winnebago Motor Home. They later joined the Alamo Winnebago Club and the Texas Winnebago Club and traveled and made lots of new friends.   

In 1979, they traded for yet another new Winnebago and got a 29 foot one; they stayed with club until October 1988, when they sold their Winnebago and quit traveling as Bill began to have leg problems.

Edna is survived by her step-daughter, June Brandon and husband Hubert of Corpus Christi, Texas; her nieces, Priscilla Hicks and husband Ray of Austin, Texas and Kathy Grisham and husband Jim of Jarrell, Texas; her step-grandchildren, Scharee McGregor, Ernest Shelton and Dawn Verlander; her 7 step-great-grandchildren, 6 step-great-great-grandchildren; and her 8 great and great-great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bill Coward; and her brother, Vernon Gustafson.

Visitation was held from 2:00 – 5:00 P.M., Friday, April 6, 2012, in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 11:30 A.M., at Elim Lutheran Church in Kenedy, Texas, officiated by, Dr. Robert K. Blomstedt. Interment followed in the Elim Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Elim Lutheran Cemetery.

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Hudson Evans, a resident of Kerrville, Texas for the last 13 years, passed away in the North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 75 years and 4 months.

Gwen was born on December 1, 1936 in Clay Hill, Alabama the daughter of Dozier Hudson and Margaret Elizabeth Wilkinson Hudson.

Gwen is survived by her children, Vada LeSueur of Phoneix, Arizona and Joe Evans and wife Paula of Granbury, Texas; her grandchildren, Von LeSueur, Jarred Evans and Shawn Evans and wife Elaine; her great-grandchildren, Coral, Myles and Audrey Evans; her sisters, Meredean Shockome and husband Tom and Faye Baker; her aunt Dorothy Perkins; her brother-in-laws, Roy Brown and Malcolm Hannes. She is preceded in death by her parents; and her sisters, Carolyn Hannes and Gail Brown; her niece, Sherry Hannes Collins and her nephews, Tommy Shockome, II and Anders Shockome.

A graveside service, officiated by Rev. David Collins, was held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in the New Bremen Cemetery, near Karnes City, Texas. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers were her grandsons, nephews and nieces.